April is the month of showers — we all know they bring May flowers. But have you ever thought about the showers that keep us smelling fresh all year round?

Roughly two out of three Americans shower every day. But it hasn’t always been that way.

The history of the modern shower is long, winding, and surprisingly global. From waterfalls to water heaters, here’s how we got here.

From Rivers to Rome: The Origins of Showering

Early humans cleaned themselves in streams, waterfalls, rain, and any natural water source they could find. As communities formed, the systems evolved.

  • The ancient Egyptians created ceramic jugs to mimic the feel of cascading water
  • The Greeks developed piping systems to move water where it was needed
  • The Romans brought the concept of hygiene to the masses, building public bathhouses across their empire

When Rome fell, the infrastructure crumbled with it. Medieval Europe lost access to Roman engineering, and the public bathhouse culture disappeared in many places.

Despite popular belief, hygiene didn’t vanish during the Dark Ages — but the systems that supported it did.

The Invention of the Shower

Fast forward to the 18th century, when interest in personal hygiene came back into focus. In 1767, William Feetham, a London stove maker, patented what is recognized as the first modern shower.

It wasn’t perfect.

  • It pumped cold water to a basin overhead
  • It dumped reused water on the user’s head
  • It wasn’t exactly refreshing

But it was a start.

By 1810, inventors added heated water. By 1850, modern plumbing was back in action — solving the whole “recycled water” issue and setting the stage for what we now recognize as a real shower.

Showers Gain Popularity

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, showers grew in popularity, especially in England and the U.S. But the bathtub still reigned supreme until the 1980s, when showers took over as the go-to option in most households.

That’s when the customization boom began. Shower heads, body jets, built-in lighting — all became part of a new era in home design. The growth hasn’t stopped since.

The Shower Industry Today

The global market for bath and shower products is now worth nearly $50 billion a year.

It’s driven by more than just hygiene. Today’s consumers care about:

  • Efficiency – modern showerheads use significantly less water than bathtubs
  • Sustainability – water-saving technologies and eco-conscious materials
  • Experience – from rainfall heads to digital temperature control

In fact, a 10-minute shower today can use up to four times less water than a typical bath. That means getting clean doesn’t have to mean wasting water.

Curious for More?

If this kind of thing interests you, check out our post on the history of foundries to see how another everyday process evolved. Or, for something a little more modern, watch this video on how showerheads and hoses are mass-produced today.

And remember, the next time a question hits you in the shower, we’d love to help answer it. Send your ideas to writingteam@flextrades.com and we just might feature it in a future blog.